Files
libretro/wiki/first-install.md
T
Abdessamad Derraz c1a02ef24f fix: print installer page samples from install.py
The dry run, the Batocera walkthrough and the narrowing line of
wiki/installer.md were typed by hand and went stale with each list.
generate_installer_doc.py now runs install.py against the committed
lists in a sandbox, dated by each list, and the pipeline runs it at
step 7.
2026-10-28 16:22:04 +01:00

181 lines
4.0 KiB
Markdown

---
level: start
order: 30
---
# First install, step by step
From an empty BIOS folder to games that start.
**You need:** internet and some free space.
## 1. Open a terminal and paste
A **terminal** is a window where you type commands. Paste your system's
line, then press Enter.
<Tabs syncKey="os">
<TabItem label="Windows">
Open the Start menu. Type **PowerShell** and open it.
```powershell title="PowerShell"
irm https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i.ps1 | iex
```
</TabItem>
<TabItem label="macOS">
Open **Terminal**, in Applications, then Utilities.
```sh title="Terminal"
curl -fsSL https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i | sh
```
</TabItem>
<TabItem label="Linux">
Open a terminal.
```sh title="Terminal"
curl -fsSL https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i | sh
```
</TabItem>
<TabItem label="Steam Deck">
Switch to Desktop Mode and open **Konsole**.
```sh title="Terminal"
curl -fsSL https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i | sh
```
</TabItem>
<TabItem label="Android (Termux)">
Install **Termux**, a terminal app, and run these lines.
```sh title="Terminal"
pkg install python
termux-setup-storage
curl -fsSL https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i | sh
```
</TabItem>
</Tabs>
On Batocera, Recalbox and similar setups, see
[Get your files](../which-pack.md).
## 2. Check the setup it found
It opens a menu:
```
RetroBIOS: Where do you play?
Found on this machine:
> <your setup>
Another setup or folder
BIOS folder: <its folder>
```
- **Right folder?** Press Enter.
- **Wrong folder, or a handheld's SD card?** Choose
**Another setup or folder**. Press / and type the device (Miyoo Mini),
or browse.
Arrows move, Enter chooses, Esc goes back (A and B on a handheld). On a
touch screen, tap a row twice to open it, once to tick a box.
## 3. Install
Press Enter on **Install**. **Choose systems** keeps the consoles you
play.
**Game data** (only a game reads it) has its own row.
**Old card?** In a card reader, choose **Copy the BIOS files from your old
card or a folder**, then the card.
## 4. Wait
Esc or Ctrl+C stops, B on a handheld. Run again to resume.
## 5. Read the result
- **Done**: all files are in place.
- **Finished with errors**: run it again. It retries only those.
- **Finished with files missing**: run it again online.
- **Nothing installed**: the screen says why. See [If it stops](#if-it-stops).
For line-by-line questions (screen readers), add `--plain`.
## What the command does
<!-- image: install-flow -->
## Check it later
Add `--check` to the same command. It changes nothing.
<!-- os-tabs -->
```sh
curl -fsSL https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i | sh -s -- --check
```
All good:
```
Everything is in place.
```
## Undo
Replaced files go to `retrobios-backup` beside your BIOS folder. The result
says how to restore them.
## If it stops
### Nothing was found here.
Choose your setup, then its folder. Where the screen offers
**Another setup or folder**, choose it first.
### Error: Python 3.8 or newer is required.
Run the command the message shows, then the installer again.
RetroPie 4.8 has Python 3.7.3, and its update finds nothing newer. Run it on
a computer, with RetroPie's `bios` share open, `\\RETROPIE\bios` from Windows:
<!-- RetroPie-Setup scriptmodules/supplementary/samba.sh:49-52 (46128cd2) shares
$home/RetroPie/BIOS as "bios", and RetroPie docs/Transferring-Roms.md:29 names
\\RETROPIE. -->
<!-- os-tabs windows: --platform retropie --dest \\RETROPIE\bios\ -->
```sh
curl -fsSL https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i | sh -s -- --platform retropie --dest <the bios share>
```
### Error: the downloaded installer does not match its expected fingerprint.
Nothing ran: something changed the file. Try another network.
### Cannot create ...
You cannot write there. Do what the message says.
### The card is full
Nothing was written. Free some space there.
### The game still does not start
See [When a game does not start](troubleshooting.md).
## Next steps
- [Get your files](../which-pack.md)
- [When a game does not start](troubleshooting.md)
- Details: [Reading the installer's output, line by line](installer.md#reading-a-run)